A new mummy arrives at the Museum of Natural History: an Egyptian princess. How is it that she knows everyone's favorite young pharaoh? The nightly adventures of the museum's inhabitants continue with a new addition!
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"Are you well, Bek?" Ahk's voice sounded beside her.
Bek quickly blinked back her tears and plastered a small, but fake smile on her face. "Of course I am. Why should I not be?"
Ahk could tell something was bothering her, but he knew her too well. She would say nothing until she was ready to, so he let it slide. Instead, he took her by the hands and led her onto the dance floor.
"Come on, Bek!" he grinned and twirled her around. Bek smiled at his antics and shook her head, but soon joined in the dancing.
Larry chuckled from his place by Nick at the DJ table. Bek and Ahk were dancing, but clearly some unknown Egyptian dance inspired their moves.
A few minutes later, the music changed to more traditional piece came on. Larry raised an eyebrow at his son.
"Nicky?"
"Teddy and the Civil War guys asked for it," the boy shrugged.
"Okay..."
Across the room, Bek and Ahk watched Teddy and Sacajawea whirling around the dance floor with several other pairs of exhibits. Ahk watched the unfamiliar dance with interest until he sensed movement at his side. Turning, he found Bek swaying in time with the music, her eyes closed, and a soft smile on her face.
"Bek?"
She opened her eyes. "Sorry, it is just that they taught me the waltz at Cambridge."
"Really?"
"Indeed," she nodded. "I had two very nice night guards who taught me English and several dances, until their supervisor walked in on us one night. He was displeased and moved them to the day shift."
"I'm sorry." He was silent a moment, then he began tugging her onto the dance floor once more. "Teach me."
"Teach you what?"
"This dance. It looks fun."
Bek looked up into her brother's grinning face. "All right, just watch the hem of your tunic and your cloak. It would not do to trip on them." She showed Ahk how to hold her and soon they were dancing around the floor—after Ahk stepped on Bek's feet a few times and he nearly tripped on his cloak at least twice. However, he soon learned how to move without tripping, and they were whirling across the room like they had been doing it forever.
"Her Majesty seems to be a fine dancer," Octavius commented from his place sitting next to Jed on the DJ table. Jed just chuckled.
"It's kinda funny ta see them two dancin' a waltz. Looks outta place or somethin'," the cowboy said. "I'm kinda surprised they haven't taken a spill yet with them long flowy robe-things they're wearin'."
"Well, there have a few near misses with the pharaoh, Jedidiah," Octavius answered. "but the Princess was able to keep them from falling."
"Yeah, she does seem ta know what she's doin'. Wonder where she learned it?"
"Perhaps during time at Cambridge. Larry said she was sent to us from there, and that she was there during the time that Ahkmenrah was there."
"Really? That mus' be it then," Jed nodded sagely. "She's purdy good for a 'Gyptian,"
"Indeed; she is quite graceful," the Roman answered thoughtfully. Jed shot him a look out of the corner of his eye but said nothing.
As the music changed into a 1940's number, Ahk and Bek slipped off the dance floor to watch. Suddenly, Bek felt a tug on her gown. She looked down to find the cutest monkey she had ever seen grinning up at her, his little fist clutching a fold of her gown.
"Hello, little one," she smiled down on him.
"That is Dexter. He can be quite mischievous," Ahk said.
The little capuchin pointed to the dancing and held a hand up to Bek.
"You want to dance, Dexter?" she asked, laughing. A huge grin spread on his little face. She bend down and picked him up, balancing him on her hip. One of his little hands fisted in the shoulder of her gown. She held his other hand in hers and slowly swayed across the dance floor. At the end, Dexter was still grinning for ear to ear and clapped enthusiastically while Bek giggled at his antics. He jumped down out of her arms and gave her a little bow before scampering off who knew where.
Bek was still laughing when she rejoined her brother on the sidelines. "Dexter is quite the little scamp," she commented.
"Oh, yes, he certainly is," Ahk agreed. They walked arm in arm around the dance floor and stopped by to see Larry and Nick.
"You guys were pretty good out there," Larry grinned. "Where did you learn the waltz, Bek?"
"While I was at Cambridge," She answered. "I rather enjoy dancing. It was only fun part of the feasts Father used to put on."
Larry nodded in sympathy. "Oh, by the way, I've got some good news," He added.
"Oh?"
"By tomorrow night, you will be installed in your new display, right next to Ahk's."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Bek smile widely. She did not enjoy having to come all the way from the lower levels to get to everyone else.
"Yeah, so no more waking up in the basement," Larry replied, grinning at her excitement.
When it was time for everyone to go back their exhibits, Larry approached Bek. "Come on, Bek, I'll walk you down to your coffin," he nudged the princess who was currently in a surprising avid conversation with Sacajawea regarding herbal remedies.
"I hate that thing," Bek grumbled under her breath to Sacajawea who sent her a sympathetic look before returning to her exhibit with Lewis and Clark. Reluctantly, Bek followed Larry down the hallways to her coffin.
"Just think, when you wake up tonight, you will be in your new exhibit," Larry said as he watched her climb into her sarcophagus.
"Small recompense for having to shut myself in this thing every morning," she groused. She handed Larry her circlet, which would be on display, and lay down, crossing her arms on her chest.
"Good morning, Bek," Larry said softly as he heaved the lid back on her coffin.
"Good morning, Larry."
Something that Larry did not know was that sometimes the exhibits, though "frozen", could hear things that happened within the museum during the day, especially the comments of people looking at their displays. They would hear things such as:
"Sacajawea had a baby with her on the Lewis and Clark Expedition? Dude!"
"Cool! It's the Wild West, guys! Look at all of the cowboys!"
"Aww! It's the monkey cute?"
"Woah! It's the Coliseum! That's were all the gladiators fought!"
The next day they heard a lot of talk about the new Egyptian exhibit.
"Daddy, the sign said that the new mummy's a princess! Just like Cinderella!"
"Yuck! It said that she was the pharaoh's sister. Poor guy! Sisters are so gross!" If Ahk could have scolded the kid, he would have corrected the boy and explained that sisters were not gross but some of the best people in the world.
"Do you think she was pretty?"
Octavius would have smiled at the young girl's comment if he could have. If only you knew, little one, he thought to himself. If only you knew.
